Gen Bikram Singh to be the new Chairman, COSC

NEW DELHI: Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has been appointed as the new Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee to succeed IAF Chief NAK Browne, who is superannuating on December 31.

The official communication for the appointment of Gen Singh as the new Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee has been issued, Ministry officials said here.

The Chairman, COSC is the senior-most officer of the three Services and is in-charge for looking after the joint issues related to them. The senior-most of the three Services chiefs takes over the post.

Gen Singh is also a frontrunner in the race for being appointed as the Permanent, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee -- a post which has been recommended by the Naresh Chandra Committee for reforms in the higher defence management.

The National Security Council Secretariat is expected to prepare proposals for the appointment of a four-star general to head the tri-services organisation.

However, the Defence Ministry has made it clear that it would like to create such a post only after discussions with other political parties and try to evolve a consensus on it.

The Defence Ministry is also of the view that there should be no haste in taking decision on a matter which will result in bringing about a major change in the military structures.